Is Benzodiazepines legal in Norway?

Legal status

Controlled in Norway, member by member rather than as a class. There is no benzodiazepine group in the groups clause at the foot of the narkotikaliste, so each member is controlled only if it is named. The ones checked for this corpus are all named rows: Diazepam, Alprazolam, Klonazepam, Lorazepam, Nimetazepam and Etizolam, each with a column 2 reference of P IV, and none of them carries a reference to section 5, so they sit in the controlled tier with a lawful medical route. Flualprazolam and Fludiazepam are also named separately, which shows the list extends itself compound by compound rather than by a structural definition.

Consequences if caught

Possession and use are forbidden by legemiddelloven section 24 first paragraph and punished under section 31 by a fine or imprisonment for up to six months, or both. Unlawful manufacture, import, export, acquisition, storage, sending or transfer is a narcotics offence under straffeloven section 231, punished by a fine or imprisonment for up to two years, and negligent commission by up to one year. An aggravated narcotics offence under section 232 carries up to ten years, a very substantial quantity carries from three to fifteen years, and under particularly aggravating circumstances up to twenty one years. Whether a particular benzodiazepine is caught is a question about that compound's own row, and a designer benzodiazepine absent from the list is not narkotika on this instrument. The narkotikaliste read here is the Lovdata consolidation as at 16 September 2026. Its own amendment note ends with forskrift 26 August 2026 no. 1682, in force 1 September 2026, and no instrument after that was read, so this cell does not rule out a later change to the list.

If prescribed or medical

Narcotic medicines may be carried for personal medical use under narkotikaforskriften section 19 if a doctor or dentist prescribed them and the traveller can document that, for example by the package label, the prescription or a doctor's declaration. A visitor without a registered address in Norway may bring up to one month's supply at the stated dosage. A person registered as living in Norway may bring one month's supply bought in Norway, but only one week's supply bought abroad, extended to one month with a declaration from a doctor in Norway on the form set by the Directorate for Medical Products. Travellers resident in the Schengen area may present an original Schengen certificate instead, issued for Norwegian residents by a pharmacy. Customs may require the documentation at the moment of entry.

Documentation

Narcotic medicines may be carried for personal medical use under narkotikaforskriften section 19 if a doctor or dentist prescribed them and the traveller can document that, for example by the package label, the prescription or a doctor's declaration. A visitor without a registered address in Norway may bring up to one month's supply at the stated dosage. A person registered as living in Norway may bring one month's supply bought in Norway, but only one week's supply bought abroad, extended to one month with a declaration from a doctor in Norway on the form set by the Directorate for Medical Products. Travellers resident in the Schengen area may present an original Schengen certificate instead, issued for Norwegian residents by a pharmacy. Customs may require the documentation at the moment of entry.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Norway’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.